Bihar trust vote: Patna HC bars 8 rebel JD(U) MLAs from floor test tomorrow

Patna: The Patna High Court on Thursday barred eight rebel Janata Dal (United) party MLAs from voting in the floor test on Friday, say TV channel reports.  Asserting that Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's government has "fallen into minority", the JD(U) on Thursday charged it with "trying to survive by buying its MLAs" ahead of the confidence vote in the Legislative Assembly tomorrow.

In a hurriedly-called press conference, JD(U) state president Vashistha Narayan Singh presented party MLA from Sheohar constituency, Sharfuddin who alleged that Pappu Yadav, RJD MP from Madhepura had telephoned him offering money and a minister's post if he supports Manjhi during the floor test. "Pappu Yadav called me on my mobile and tried to lure me into supporting Manjhi by promising all sorts of things. He said I will be given a minister's post, money and whatever I wish for if I vote in favour of Manjhi during the confidence vote," Sarfuddin told reporters. The Sheohar MLA also played the recording of the phone call, allegedly made by Yadav, and said that he was staunchly with his party and senior leader Nitish Kumar as its leader.

Deviating from his party line, Pappu Yadav had recently appealed to his party president Lalu Prasad not to support Nitish Kumar on the issue of Jitan Ram Manjhi's removal. Pledging his support to Manjhi in his individual capacity, Pappu Yadav had appealed to MLAs, including those of his own party, to vote on the basis of "voice of their conscience". Ahead of Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's floor test, Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary on Thursday granted the status of principal opposition party to JD(U) in place of BJP, which slammed the move as "arbitrary".

Read: Bihar political crisis: BJP eyes mahadalits

The Speaker granted JD(U) leader Vijay Chaudhary the status of leader of opposition in place of BJP's Nand Kishore Yadav. "Assembly Secretariat has to act according to numerical strength and since JD(U) had sought the status of main opposition, we had no reason to deny them this considering their numbers," Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary said.

"Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi after being expelled by party President Sharad Yadav has been declared as unattached member in the Legislative Assembly. He has to prove his majority in the House tomorrow. JD(U) would also be given status of main opposition in the Legislative Council. On the basis of numerical strength, we have no option but to recognise JD(U) as main opposition party in the Legislative Council," Chairman of Council Awdesh Narayan Singh said. Meanwhile, a furious BJP sat on dharna in front of Assembly entrance to protest the Speaker's "arbitrary" decision.

"This is for the first time in the country that a party, JD(U) will sit in both treasury and opposition sides," Nan Kishore Yadav said. He contended that BJP was inclined to support Manjhi on issues but this did not mean it was joining Manjhi government.

"Even Nitish Kumar being in NDA had supported Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential election while other constituents had voted for PA Sangma. So giving issue-based support does not mean a party joining a government," Yadav argued.

JD(U) Legislature Party leader Vijay Chaudhary had on Wednesday during an all party meeting urged the Speaker to allow it to sit in opposition gallery as it has decided to oppose trust vote to be sought by Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi tomorrow.

"Assembly is run by rules and laws and not anybody's whims, on the basis of 'sankhya bal' (numerical strength) there was no reason to deny JD(U) request to grant it status of principal opposition party," the Speaker said. Accordingly, JD(U) has been given status of principal Opposition party and its leader Vijay Chaudhary has been recognised as leader of opposition in the House, the Speaker said.

In the 243-member Bihar Assembly whose effective strength at present is 233, JD(U) has 110 MLAs including Speaker, one unattached member in Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, BJP 87, RJD 24, Congress 5, CPI 1, Independent 5 while 10 seats are vacant. Asked about sitting arrangements for BJP in the House, the Speaker said it would be decided later on. The Speaker said that Manjhi will sit on the first seat as he is the chief minister.

His seven ministers, who have been suspended by JD(U), who are still member of the party and binded by whip, would be allocated seat in JD(U) gallery, he said. Asked if he has decided which option to use among lobby division and secret ballot for tomorrow's trust vote as instructed by Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, the Speaker said "it will be announced only at the time of voting".

In the Upper House of Bihar Legislature where Nitish Kumar is also a member at present, JD(U) would be recognised as principal Opposition party in place of BJP. In the 75-member Bihar Legislative Council, JD(U) has 41 members, BJP 16, RJD 5, Congress 4, CPI 2 and Independent 7. Meanwhile, BJP whose leader Nand Kishore Yadav had on Wednesday walked out of all-party meeting sat on dharna in front of Assembly entrance. Some BJP members were seen locked in angry exchange of words with Assembly staff. Nand Kishore Yadav told reporters the Speaker has acted in an "arbitrary" manner in recognising JD(U) as main opposition.